PHIL WOODTHORPE'S
RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE
Phil Woodthorpe is BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Blues presenter, his Rhythm & Blues News & Diary is broadcast at 6.30pm on the first Wednesday of every month on BBC Radio Lincolnshire 94.9FM
Phil's Top Ten Blues Albums ~ 2002
Phil's Top Ten Albums ~ 2001
Phil's Blues Playlist ~ 2001
Phil's Top Ten Albums ~ 2000
Blues in the Year 2000
Blues Playlist 2000
View Blues In The 90's
View Phil's Top 30 Blues Albums of The 90's
View Phil's Top 10 Blues Albums of 1999
PHIL WOODTHORPE'S BLUES TOP TEN ~ 2002
Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up On Me - Fat Possum
W.C. Clark - From Austin With Soul - Alligator
Shemekia Copeland - Talking To Strangers - Alligator
Guy Davis - Give In Kind - Red House Records
Larry Johnson - 2 Gun Green - Armadillo
Connie Lush - Unfaithfully Yours - Blue Rhythm
Delbert McClinton - Room To Breathe - New West
Mighty Mo Rodgers - Red White & Blues - Universal
Daniel Smith - Dreamtime - Pinetop
Jody Williams - Return Of A Legend - Evidence
Phil Woodthorpe's Blues Top 10 2001
Marcia Ball - Presumed Innocent - Alligator
Cracking release by singer pianist Marcia who has a great rockin' Texas/Louisana R&B sound
Eric Bibb - Painting Signs - Manhaton
A British made recording by Eric who along with Keb Mo is the best and most original of the modern day acoustic blues performers
Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown-Back To Bogalusa-BlueThumb
Great Louisana feel to this album by the veteran bluesman who is so versatile he can play any blues style with ease
Deborah Coleman - Livin' On Love - Blind Pig
One of the stars of this years Great British R&B festival Deborah is a talented singer guitarist and songwriter on this dynamite release
Shemekia Copeland - Wicked
Blues album of the year in the American WC Handyawards, Shemekia is a powerhouse young blues vocalist and this album is full of hard stompin' rocking songs
John Hammond - Wicked Grin - Pointblank
Masterful country blues versions of some great Tom Waits songs
Big Bill Morganfield - Ramblin'Mind - Blind Pig
Muddy Waters son is a marvellous modern day Chicago bluesman with powerful rhythms and great vocals piano and harmonica
Kid Ramos - Greasy Kid Stuff - Evidence
Kid follows last year's great 'West Coast House Party' album with an even better sax fired album featuring various star guests on vocals/harmonica
Johnny Rawls - Put Your Trust In Me - JSP
Lovely classy understated soul blues album with excellent songs
Todd Sharpeville - The Meaning Of Life - Cathouse
The best british blues album for a long time features guitarist Todd's own songs and various guest vocalists giving a great fifties West Coast sound
Phil Woodthorpe's Blues Playlist ~ 2001
January
Odetta - Blues Everywhere I Go - Blues Everywhere I Go - MC Records
Snooky Pryor/Mel Brown - Early In The Morning - Double Shot - Electro-Fi
Kent DuChaine - Aberdeen Mississippi Blues - Live At 'Les Loufiats' - Cadillac
February
Koko Taylor - Keep Your Mouth Shut And Your Eyes Wide Open - Royal Blue - Alligator
Mighty Mo Rodgers - The Kennedy Song - Blues Is My Wailin Wall - Blue Thumb
Bob Pearce - 14 - Why Am I Hollerin'? - Fuzzy Pig
March
Stan Webb - She loves You - Webb - Indigo
Percy Strother - Don't let Your So Called Friends Come between You And Me - It's My Time - JSP
April
Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges - If You Don't Wanna Love Me - Born To Be Blue - Blueside
The Nightporters - Just Keep loving Her - Rollercoaster - Indigo
Harmonica Shah - Mellow Down Easy - Deep Detroit - Bluetrack
May
Big Jack Johnson - Jump For Joy - Roots Stew - M.C. Records
Eric Bibb - Mandela Is Free - Home To Me - Hatman
Bluesmove - Dangerous Mood - First Cut
June
Shemekia Copeland - It's 2 A.M. - Wicked - Alligator
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings - Rollin and Stumblin - Double Bill
Lightnin Willie and the Poorboys - Calling Out to Muddy - Lucky AS The Devil -Bluetrack
July
Jimmy Smith - Three O'Clock Blues - dot com blues - Blue Thumb Records
Nina Simone - Don't let Me Be Misunderstood - Finest Hour - Verve
Terry Evans - Honey Boy - Blues For Thought - Pointblank
August
Angela Brown - A Man Size Job - Thinking out Loud - Blueside
Deborah Coleman - My Heart Bleeds Blue - I Can't Lose - Blind Pig
Witham Delta Boys - Guitar Rag - Crossing The Tracks
September
Curtis Stigers - Van Said (Sha La La) - Brighter Days - Curb
Paul Lamb & The King Snakes - Take Your Time & Get It Right - Indigo
Taj Mahal - Queen Bee - Very Best Of - Global
October
Walter Trout - Outta Control - Go The Distance - Ruf
Bill Thomas - Vero - Ain't halfsteppin - Bluetrack
Peter Green Splinter Group - Lies - Time Traders - Eagle
December
Out Of The Blue - The Truth Is Sought By A Liar - Shadowplay - Armadillo
Emily Druce - Tell me So - The Guilt Trip - Roly
Amor - 24 Hours -Amor - Manhaton
BLUES TOP TEN ~ 2000
Guy Davis - Butt Naked Free - Red House
A gorgeous collection of songs written by Guy and performed by him in either acoustic blues style or with a rootsy sensitive band.
Corey Harris / Henry Butler - Vu-Du Menz - Alligator
An inspired combination of Corey's acoustic guitar blues and the New Orleans piano of Henry produces a real original blues potion.
Big Jack Johnson and the Oilers - Roots Stew - M.C. Records
Big Jack explores his musical roots playing a diverse range of wonderful blues
numbers using the mandolin with lap steel hawaiian and electric guitars.
Odetta - Blues Everywhere I Go - M.C. Records
With a long pedigree in the blues Odetta takes the classic songs of Bessie Smith Memphis Minnie and others and makes them her own. A tremendous vocal performance and a great band playing traditional blues.
Wilson Pickett - It's Harder Now - Bullseye
Winner of the W.C. Handy awards for both comeback and soul blues album of the year.Wilson is in fine soulful voice and is backed by a band packing a real Southern Soul punch.
Snooky Pryor / Mel Brown - Double Shot - Electro-Fi
Snooky is a giant of the blues and his harmonica playing teamed with Mel Brown's guitar playing makes for powerful authentic 50's style Chicago blues.
Mighty Mo Rodgers - Blues Is My Wailin Wall - GRP Records
A stunning debut and a unique blues album. Mo performs his own highly original songs in a range of blues styles from piano harp boogie to soul.
Magic Slim & The Teardrops - Snakebite - Blind Pig
Slim's tough raunchy guitar and his sandpapered vocals power through a glorious set of rocking Chicago blues recorded with his 4 piece road band.
Jon T-Bone Taylors Bop Brothers - And Sisters - Abacabe
The best UK album released this year featuring the cream of UK blues vocalists Earl Green, Connie Lush, Ruby Turner,Taka Boom together with Deitra Farr and famed saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith.
Irma Thomas - My Heart's In Memphis - Rounder
The Queen of New Orleans is the best 60's style soul singer currently recording and Dan Penn is the all-time best soul songwriter.Together they make a wonderful classy album
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The first year of the new millenium was a excellent one for blues music.The standard of new blues recordings was as high as it has ever been and the number and quality of re-issues continued with the Ace and Indigo labels leading the field with some great releases.In addition there was a superb range of live gigs both locally and nationally particularly via the three major blues festivals at Burnley(Easter),Bishopstock(Whitsun) and Colne(August Bank holiday).
On a personal level three performances stand out for me in 2000:
Mighty Sam McClain at Burnley(April)
James Hunter at the Woodman,Louth(July)
Sherman Robertson + Corey Harris and Henry Butler at the Old Vic,Nottingham(October).
My top ten of new blues recordings was dominated as usual by American blues musicians who I recommend you check out largely for the sheer power of feeling and authenticity of the music. There were however a number of excellent releases by UK artists who lets face it we are more likely to see perform live at local venues.The UK releases that I particularly rated were:
Jon T-Bone Taylor's Bop Brothers - and Sisters
Eugene 'Hideaway Bridges - Man without a Home
Paul Lamb and the King Snakes - Take Your Time and Get It Right
Sonny Black and the Dukes - Heart and Soul
Dave Peabody and Brendon Power - Two Trains Running.
As far as I am aware the first two have yet to appear at a venue locally. ~ Maybe in 2001?
(Fizgig footnote - John T-Bone Taylor appeared at Spalding Blues Club with The Daniel Smith Band in Oct 2000 - but hasn't to our knowledge appeared with The Bop Brothers in Lincolnshire - Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges was the special guest support act for The Blues Band at Grimsby Auditorium in 1999 for their Blues Band Convention)
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As well as the my Top Ten for 2000 and the UK releases above I also commend to you the following re-issues:
1949 - The R&B Hits(2CD) - Indigo
Essential Country Girls - Little Rock Blues - Indigo
Mighty Sam McClain - Soul Survivor The Best Of - Audioquest
Chicago - The Blues Today(3CD) - Vanguard
BB King - The Best of the Kent Singles - Kent
Clay Hammond and ZZ Hill - Southern Soul Brothers - Kent
Roy Hawkins - The Thrill Is Gone - Ace
Great R&B Duets - Ace
Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures - Ace
Keep listening to BBC Radio Lincs Blues programme at 6.30 pm on the first Wednesday of the month. For those who have not yet caught up with the show I am attaching a list of tracks played in 2000.
Finally my best wishes for a happy and successful 2001 go to all blues fans,musicians and particularly promoters who run blues clubs and venues around our area.
Phil Woodthorpe
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January
Walter Harpman Band - I Feel So Good - Feel So Good - 2 Get her Records
Lazy Lester - I Need Money - All Over You - Antones
February
Mighty Sam McClain - Sledgehammer Soul & Down Home Blues - AudioQuest
Dana Dixon Band - Don't Make My Business Yours - Boogie Woman - DDBB
March
Gwyn Ashton - Ain't got time for that stuff - Feel the Heat - Riverside
Paul Lamb & The King Snakes - The Best I Can - The Blue Album - Indigo
May
Bob Hall - I Don't Play Boogie - Don't Play Boogie - Indigo
Peter Green - I'm A Steady Rollin' Man - Hot Foot Powder - Snapper Music
Taj Mahal - Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes - Phantom Blues - BMG
June
Wilson Pickett - Outskirts Of Town - It's Harder Now - Bullseye
Michael Roach - San Francisco Bay Blues - Ain't Got me No Home - Stella
Dave Peabody & Brendan Power - Ride Ride Mama - Two Trains Running - Indigo
July
James Hunter - Turn On Your Love Light - Believe What I Say - Ace
Otis Grand - Lonely Man - Live Anthology - Mystic Records
Corey Harris - Song of the Pipelayer - VU-Du Menz
August
Son Seals - Adding Up - Nothing But The Truth - Alligator
John Jackson - Going Down To Georgia On A Horn
- Don't Let Your Deal Go Down - Arhoolie
Joe louis Walker - It's You Baby - Silvertone Blues - Verve
September
Otis Grand - Just One More Time - Perfume and Grime - Sequel
Johnny Whitehill - I'm Tired - Guitar Slinger - Indigo
The Barcodes - Barcodes theme - Keep Your Distance - BM
BB King - Whatever happened to me - The Best Of the Kent Singles 1958-71 - Ace
October
Sherman Robertson - I'll Cry When Its Over - Here and Now - Code Blue
Otis Rush - It's A Mean Old World - Chicago The Blues Today - Vanguard
Paul Lamb & The King Snakes - Looking Back - Take Your Time & Get It Right - Indigo
November
Taj Mahal - Cheatin On You - Very Best Of Taj Mahal - Global
Frank Carline - Going So Good - One World - Resofone
Simon Honeyboy Hickling - Wonderful Night - Blue It - Bridge
Rory Block - Kassie Jones - Confessions of a Blues Singer - Rounder
December
Jonathan Kalb - Hamburg Rain - Shadow of a Man - Saloon Recordings
Ray Charles - Drown In My Own Tears - Birth of Soul Vol 2 - Atlantic
James Hunter - Kick It Around - Kick It Around - Ruf
Witham Delta Boys - Midnight Train - Crossing
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My Top 30 list of the best new blues recordings of the 1990s clearly demonstrates that this wonderful music which probably started life in the first decade of the 20th century ( the first blues recordings were in the 1920s ) was still in an excellent state in the last decade.
The list comprises entirely new recordings but the last decade has seen a vast number of CD re-issues.At the start of the decade many of us were still buying LPs but this all changed in the 1990s resulting in some marvellous re-isssues of classic blues recordings.This has included all the major pre-war acoustic blues recordings on the Document and Yazoo labels, the wonderful Chess label recordings of 1950s Chicago blues and the Stax label sounds which dominated the 1960s.The Ace label has established itself as the number one re-issue label in this country and its release of the Excello label Lousiana recordings from the 1950s and 60s provided the best example of their work.
The list demonstrates that the standard of new blues recordings was as high as in the classic eras of the blues and several older artists on the list made their best ever albums in the 1990s.I make no apologies for the dominance in the list of black American blues musicians.It is not surprising that since blues music was traditionally the musical expression of black Americans it generally still sounds more powerful and authentic.Nevertheless the standard of British blues is higher than ever and the best British bands such as Otis Grand,Paul Lamb, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Ruby Turner, Connie Lush and The Hoax can rival the American stars.However with the exception of Otis Grand (who recorded Perfume and Grime and other albums in America) the standard of recordings by British bands has not matched their live performances.
In this country the amount and standard of live blues music has been better in the 1990s than any previous decade although there has been a mixture of success and failure.The establishment of major blues festivals notably in Lancashire at Burnley and the Great British Rhythm and Blues festival at Colne has been a real success and we have been able to see many American artists not seen before in the country.Latterly the Bishopstock blues festival has provided an incredible line-up of blues stars over the May Bank holiday weekend.Locally some venues for blues music have endured whilst others have been tried and not received the support they deserved.The foremost success has been at the Spalding Blues Club which attracts sell out audiences and is able to book top flight British bands.We should also be grateful for Spilsby Theatre in attracting visiting Americans and this has proved itself to be an excellent venue for acoustic blues.I must say that I am full of admiration for the promoters musicians and other enthusiasts who continue to fly the flag for blues music in the area.
On a personal level I travelled widely in the 1990s in search of live blues music and achieved a lifetime ambition to follow a blues trail from Memphis through Mississippi to New Orleans.This culminated in a visit to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival which is attended by many blues and soul stars.By regularly visiting festivals in this country and occasionally in Europe I have managed to see most of my blues heroes live over the last decade and certainly almost all of those in my Top 30.It was fitting that the last gig I attended in the 1990s was the re-united Walter Harpman Band - without doubt the area's best blues band throughout the 1990s.
Unfortunately it is back to square one as far as my blues slot on BBC Radio Lincolnshire is concerned.I started the slot in 1992 with a 15 minute gig guide playing a couple of tracks and ended the decade with 10 minutes doing the same.By the mid 1990s I had built up to a 45 minute monthly blues review with live interviews and also presented a weekly one hour 'Saturday night Rhythm and Blues' programme.The decline of specialist music on local radio since then is a real cause for concern but it will only be restored by public demand which the BBC does not believe exists at present.
Finally it is sad that several of those included in my Top 30 have since departed this world.It seems amazing that these artists can record such powerful music just a relatively short time before their death.All I can say is that there must be one hell of gig taking place in Blues Heaven!
So RIP - Johnny Adams,Luther Allison,Charles Brown,William Clarke,Albert Collins,Johnny Copeland,Championn Jack Dupree,Jimmy Rogers,Katie Webster,Junior Wells.
Despite the sadness of this list I have no doubt that blues music will endure and give pleasure throughout the 21st century.
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TOP 30
BLUES ALBUMS
OF THE
1990s
Johnny Adams - Man Of My Word - Rounder
Luther Allison - Bad Love - Ruf
Carey Bell - Good Luck Man - Alligator
Charles Brown - Just A Lucky So And So - Bullseye
Little Buster - Right On Time - Bullseye
W.C. Clark - Lover's Plea - Black Top
William Clarke - Hard Way - Alligator
Albert Collins - Collins Mix - Pointblank
Johnny Copeland - Catch Up With The Blues - Verve
James Cotton - Deep In The Blues - Verve
Robert Cray - Shame and a Sin - Mercury
Champion Jack Dupree - One Last Time - Bullseye
Snooks Eaglin - Teasin You - Black Top
Deitra Farr - The Search Is Over - JSP
Larry Garner - You Need To Live A Little - Verve
Otis Grand - Perfume and Grime - Sequel
Buddy Guy - Damn Right I Got The Blues - Silvertone
Michael Hill's Blues Mob - New York State Of The Blues
Holmes Brothers - Soul Street - Rounder
John Lee Hooker - The Healer - Silvertone
B.B. King - Blues On The Bayou - MCA
Keb Mo - Keb Mo - Okeh
Snooky Pryor - Too Cool To Move - Antones
Jimmy Rogers - Ludella - Antones
Otis Rush - Ain't Enough Comin In - This Way Up
Percy Sledge - Blue Night - Virgin
Joe Louis Walker - JLW - Verve
Robert Ward - Fear No Evil - Silvertone
Katie Webster - Deluxe Edition - Alligator
Junior Wells - Come On In This House - Telarc
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This list breaks down into the following styles of blues music:
*
Harmonica/Chicago Blues
Carey Bell, William Clarke, Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Rogers, Junior Wells
*
Traditional/Acoustic Blues
James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, Keb Mo
*
Piano Blues
Charles Brown, Champion Jack Dupree, Katie Webster
*
Guitar Blues
Luther Allison, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Otis Grand, Buddy Guy, Michael Hill,
B.B. King, Otis Rush, Joe Louis Walker
*
Louisiana Blues
Snooks Eaglin, Larry Garner
*
Soul Blues
Johnny Adams, Little Buster, W.C. Clark, Johnny Copeland, Deita Farr,
Holmes Brothers, Percy Sledge, Robert Ward
*
Phil Woodthorpe
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Phil Woodthorpe's Top 10 ~ 1999
(in alphabetical order)
Angela Brown - Thinking Out Loud - Blueside
Captures Angela's great live performances as she rocks swings and bellows her
way through a great set of blues
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Robert Cray - Take Your Shoes Off - Rykodisc
His best album since Shame & Sin, and more in the style of his best selling albums
of the 80s with strong songs and his soulful voice, outstanding
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John Jackson - Front Porch Blues - Alligator
Simply the finest living acoustic bluesman still playing today with wonderful
Piedmont style blues
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B B King - Blues On The Bayou - MCA
Rootsy good time feel to the King of the blues, best album in years recorded with
his live band
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Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes - The Blue Album - Indigo
The best album made by this popular band perfectly showcases Paul's
harmonica playing & Johnny Whitehill's tasteful guitar
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Lazy Lester - All Over You - Antones
Former Excello label star this is Lester's first album in 10 years a brilliant slab of
harmonica swamp blues
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Robert Lockwood - I Got To Find Me A Woman - Verve
True legend of the blues with a real authentic slice of blues which won him the
WC Handy award for traditional blues album of the year
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Kelly Joe Phelps - Shine Eyed Mister Zen - Rykodisc
Highly original solo bluesman with totally unique sound - deep mysterious
compelling
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Otis Rush - Any Place I'm Going
Stunning guitar & vocals from Otis who is at the peak of his powers, this truly sums up
the very best of blues
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Michelle Wilson - Tryin To Make A Little Love - Bullseye
One of the best modern blues vocalists on a swing based but very varied album
which fully captures her talents
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Thanks to BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Blues presenter Phil Woodthorpe, for submitting these articles for use on the Fizgig website.
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Email your Blues news to Phil
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